Later, when Armstrong repeatedly heard the recording, he eventually admitted that he left out the word he had meant to say.

Does it make a difference?

Grammarians will tell you that it makes a world of difference.

The exclusion of the single letter word 'a' changes the connotation of the expression entirely, from a statement about one individual into a universal statement about mankind. Since “man” and “mankind” are synonyms, what Neil Armstrong actually said was that walking on the moon was both a small step and a giant leap for the human race. How can it be both? It was either small or giant!

Perhaps Neil Armstrong ended up saying an additional layer of meaning, one that is relevant to the High Holiday season.

Our giant leaps are really our small steps.

Our giant leaps are really our small steps. Our big jumps of transformation can only occur with consistent and small strides.

How indeed did man or mankind get to the moon? Did NASA just decide one day to fly to the moon or did it take years and years of small successes and preparation?

How does man or mankind or every man do anything? Do we ever just take a giant leap in order to get somewhere? Or do we go little by little, step by step?

How does a person finish a really long book? How does anyone finish the entire Chumash or Talmud? There’s only one way. Verse by verse and page and page. Small but steady steps which become giant leaps.

The world is made up of undetectable atoms and our bodies are made up of microscopic cells. So too, our spiritual makeup is defined by our small actions. The power of small actions for creating change is comparable to taking a pill for medicine where the active ingredient makes up merely one or two percent of the entire dosage, and a greater quantity would do more harm than good. Likewise, small actions do not provoke instinctive feelings of resistance. More often than not, grand resolutions create pressure, which can slowly but surely lead to a desire to rebel.

So giant leaps without taking the small steps often lead to failure. Changing any of our habits must be a gradual process and we must be careful not to accept upon ourselves anything that is more than we can handle. Especially now before the High Holidays as we look to change and improve, we would do better to implement small changes that ‘fly under the radar.’ Only slow and gradual growth has lasting power.

If someone ingests 1000 extra calories per day and then begins to eat 100 calories less per day, that’s a positive step. To stop everything ‘cold turkey’ is not easy, but making steady but small progress is something we all can do.

Valuing small successes applies to all of life’s triumphant experiences. We have to remind ourselves that every bit counts.

Each exercise movement helps build your body’s health. Small snowflakes add up to be feet of snow. Small bricks build an entire house. Every single small Ingredient makes a whole recipe. Seconds add up to minutes. Minutes become hours. Each dollar of charity keeps the cause alive. Each phone call to a lonely person makes that person feel needed and loved. Each helping hand clears a dinner table.

We are all parts that make up a whole. Each one of us can make the difference and help form the bigger picture.

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About the Author

Rabbi Boruch Leff is a vice-principal at Torah Institute in Baltimore. "Are You Growing?" (Feldheim), his just released book, is a must read if you want to grow spiritually. Click here for info on the book.

Visitor Comments: 21

(18)
Ed Harley,
September 1, 2013 6:23 AM

Every step counts.

Every step we take, every move we make, every word we speak takes its place in influencing the forward movement of our great universe. Armstrong's famous step and his inspired statement about it was especially note worthy. But we should also remember that even our smallest word or action can go forth as a ripple effect that could influence and hopefully bless all that the ripple touches. What a wonderful opportunity we have. Happy New Year to all.

(17)
Anonymous,
August 29, 2013 4:07 PM

Insightful, profound, and true.

There is a French saying: "Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivieres". (Small streams make big rivers). I like that.

(16)
Beverly Kurtin,
January 28, 2013 3:51 AM

Whoda thunk?

As I marveled at seeing a men land on the moon, all I could think of was that mankind has looked up at that satellite since the beginning of time and we of all of the generations got to see men fly there and come back to earth!
I felt a connection to our ancestors in the shtetls who looked at the same moon that you and I do. We have the same sun they did, the same moon and stars and never imagined that men would some day in the future escape the bonds of earth and fly to the moon. Whoever thought that we could someday look at close-up pictures from Mars and other planets.
We now take space travel for granted, we don't even stare at our televisions with each rocket launch as we did in the 60s and early 70s.
It makes me realize that we take Hashem for granted at times and take the miracles we take for granted everyday. Just think: Oxygen is highly explosive. Hydrogen is highly explosive. Put them together and we drink it everyday to quench our thirst. We take America's freedom of religion, to be able to practice our faith without worrying about being arrested or shot. This is an incredible time to be alive and most people don't even think about it at times and sadly, that includes me.

Karen,
August 28, 2013 9:24 PM

Nicely put!

(15)
Sarah,
September 25, 2012 2:47 AM

So true....

I once heard a really nice dvar Torah that even God took 6 days to create the world- He did it in steps, not all at once.

(14)
A. Hick,
September 9, 2012 1:34 AM

"A" big difference

There has always been controversy about this quote, and this is a bit of a revisionism. Armstrong always maintained, I believe, that he said what was originally intended, and that this got garbled in the radio transmission from the moon, but some think there was a NASA coverup to protect Armstrong. LOL Interesting history, and recent scientific analysis of the recording seems to back up Armstrong's assertion, but that he sort of slurred the "A." No doubt out of excitement.

(13)
rayla,
September 7, 2012 5:31 PM

awesome article

Wow!! Really insightful article! Loved it! Thanks for all u do

(12)
ruth housman,
September 4, 2012 8:53 PM

baby's first steps

Baby's first steps, those tentative first ones, as in walking for the first time, being truly upright, well these are Big Steps for one so small, and for those watching, it's a major achievement. As mite and might are totally aurally same, it's a given, that small IS big, and sometimes those who are big with small, as in eateries that do very well, the Big Step turns out to be, the wrong step, as often small is beautiful, and it is in small we find uniqueness and character. And also intimacy. When drugstores got really Big, people, especially the elderly who had personal relationships with those druggists, well they really hurt, as did people who really loved the personal touch before answering machines.
We lose something with Big and we need to remember, as in the myriad bumper stickers, that small acts of kindness are very VERY Big.

(11)
Yvette Alley,
September 4, 2012 5:18 PM

big steps made of little steps

The point is that every success is a journey made by small steps. It's a process that is gradually worked through. It is a rare person that has a tremendous success without going through the small steps of process.

(10)
John Leishman,
September 3, 2012 11:36 AM

Think about it

I enjoyed the summary that all our best big efforts are all made up of wee ones. but I dont believe for a second that man has ever landed on the moon, With the technology of today it would be difficult enough, but back in those days ?? No, I believe that there was more chance of Columbus sailing the ocean in an old tin can

(9)
Jacenty Domanski,
September 3, 2012 9:23 AM

One small step

If the statement someone can compare to the High Holidays meaning, there will be the same. Big lie. Therefore forgat, Neil never landed on the moon.

I t would be stupid to think that a man of such eminence and experience as a pilot would have omitted to say what he meant. But Amstrong himself admits he could not hear the word himself after he heard his recorded voice from earth. But later onwards Amstrong insisted that he did say the word "a" and NASA too backed their "Moon Man".That is a big step I suppose. Varghese Philip

(7)
Meir Shlomo,
September 2, 2012 9:46 PM

Steps Shmeps .......it was unbelievable!!!!

Sometimes we look too hard into details of things instead of simply appreciating the big picture. Neal Armstrong stepped on the moon--WOW !! That's the moon we see at night out in the heavens and some real flesh and bones person flew millions of miles in a virtual tin can to get there AND he made it back to earth .... VAYIZMEER !!!!

(6)
Anonymous,
September 2, 2012 7:08 PM

foundationally speaking

Neil Armstrong actually said, "for a man"; it just did not come through on the mic. Still, your point is well grounded and the smallest detail of a day, or a life is significant to the whole.
"For who has despised the day of small things?" Zech. 4:10
Our very foundation depends on such.
Our sense of humanity was a little fuller in Mr. Armstrong's day. May we recover the sense of unity as humans and feel accomplished for the purpose of one another.

(5)
Anonymous,
September 2, 2012 6:15 PM

Thank you

Somewhere along the way I got lost under an emotional pile that seemed impossible to dig out of. I have been feeling lost and anxious. Your article gave me hope to put one foot in front of the other. It reminded me of my spiritual connection. I feel like I can breath again.

(4)
Chana,
September 2, 2012 4:33 PM

Small Steps are Important

A Rabbi I study with encourages us to take on one additional mitzvah, or concentrate on perfecting one aspect of our observance, each year before Rosh HaShana. I am trying to remember to make a blessing before eating or drinking anything. It only takes a moment, but it greatly affects my awareness and appreciation of the item; it also increases my self-control when I do that. One small step...leading to big improvements!

(3)
avra cohen,
September 2, 2012 3:34 PM

Quantum Leaps

Great insight. At the smallest scale of material reality, molecular transformation is governed by the most minute changes of electric energy. One can posit: "A small step for electrons, a quantum leap for matter."

(2)
Harry Pearle,
September 2, 2012 2:30 PM

Focus on EASY - Memorable Steps (EASY Button Idea)

I think there is more to taking small steps. We can also decide to remember some of these small steps...Please Neil Armstrong make his statement on the moon, we remember that moment. Similarly, we can make note of steps we take...I am trying to do just that with the EASY button (from Staples). The button is encouraging me to make the effort, but also note note of it, so I will be encourage to take more and more steps. Then I can also encourage others to take steps, into the New Year and beyond...

Anonymous,
September 2, 2012 8:10 PM

Memorable - Maybe..Easy - Not sure

Memorable usually implies reflection. Small steps usually are not memorable until well after the fact, when the "whole" picture evolves. Most things of importance are not easy. If progress and greatness were possible with easy steps (even many of them) then we would all live in bliss. I am concerned that using a reward or a reminder to take a step changes somewhat the end-point. Does this cheapen our actions and make it appears we are moving forward for a bribe? There is merit not only in our steps, but how we take them. Do we need a gimmick or a slogan to get something done? It seems are spending more energy inventing "buzz words" than doing anything of substance. If we need immediate reinforcement or praise to do something "easy", there just seems to be something amiss here.

(1)
Anonymous,
September 2, 2012 1:41 PM

Inspiring Article!

Multiple small steps are of utmost importance and the basis of everyday life. But it seems that what brings greatness is the big picture - the small steps added together become bigger than the sum of the parts.